THE VERSAILLES CITY COUNCIL held a work session Thursday, Jan. 7 that featured briefings from city department heads and others. Newcomers Lisa Johnson and Aaron Smither said the speakers did a great job. From left, Johnson, Councilmembers Fred Siegelman and Mike Coleman, Public Works Director, Councilmember Laura Dake and Smither. (Photo submitted)	ECKERT VETERINARY HOSPITAL hosted a ribbon-cutting Monday to celebrate the opening of the clinic at 248 Shannon Run Road. At center is clinic owner Dr. Casey Eckert Kight; holding the big scissors was her son Wyatt. They were joined by local elected officials and other members of the Woodford Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Emily Downey)	NEW STATE REP. DAN FISTER, right, with his wife, Vickie, was sworn into office by Magistrate Mary Ann Gill (Dist. 7) on New Year’s Day. Fister, a Republican from Woodford County, said as a member of the Agriculture, Small Business and Technology, and Tourism and Outdoor Recreation committees, he was prepared to serve the 56th District in many ways. (Photo submitted)
A NASHVILLE, TENN. man was charged with DUI and other violations after hitting a utility pole and the Subway on Lexington Road on New Year’s Eve at 9:09 p.m. Police say John B. Ndayisaba, 26, was eastbound on the U.S. 60 Bypass approaching Lexington Road when the Toyota Corolla he was driving ran through the median, struck the KU pole, then the Subway, causing $1,000 in damage. No one was injured. (Photo by Matthew Tovar, Versailles Fire Department)	BRAD PENNINGTON AND CALLIE NORTHERN played Joseph and Mary at Pisgah Presbyterian Church’s Living Nativity scene Saturday, Dec. 19. (Photo by John McGary)	A CHRISTMAS EVE late night smoke scare in a house at 789 Mildred Street had Versailles firefighters battling the elements while using fans to clear the home of smoke. Acting Chief Brandon Brown said they found no fire and the smoke was caused by a malfunctioning furnace belt. (Photo by Capt. Zach Yeary)
THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY of sponsors and Tree Trail participants, Woodford County Festival of Trees presented $2,500 checks to both Shop With A Cop and Woodford County Young Life. Shop With A Cop supported 262 youth in the community this season. Left to right, Officer Tim Conner, Mick McNulty, Officer Anthony Conner and Chief Mike Murray. (Photo submitted)	THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY of sponsors and Tree Trail participants, Woodford County Festival of Trees presented $2,500 checks to both Shop With A Cop and Woodford County Young Life. Shop With A Cop supported 262 youth in the community this season. Left to right, Officer Tim Conner, Mick McNulty, Officer Anthony Conner and Chief Mike Murray. (Photo submitted)	JOSEPHINE BARROWS celebrated her 100th birthday Sunday with her children, from left, Joe Barrows, Pete Barrows, Bill Barrows and Susan Hipkens. They were joined by Hondo, Bill’s dog. A tribute to Josephine, written by Pete, will be in next week’s Sun. (Photo submitted)
THE MIDWAY WOMAN’S CLUB annual holiday decor winners include this home at 337 North Winter Street (Best Decorated Yard) and nearly two dozen others. Winners were presented a laminated circuit, rather than a leg lamp – but still consider it a major award. (Photo submitted)	AMANDA GLASS was sworn in and will begin her four-year term on the Woodford County Board of Education beginning in January. Woodford District Judge Mary Jane Phelps, left, administered the oath to Glass in downtown Midway Dec. 19. Ambrose Wilson IV, whom Glass will succeed on the board representing District 1, and board Vice Chair Dani Bradley attended the ceremony with a small group of family and friends. (Photo submitted)	MIDWAY UNIVERSITY hosted a ribbon-cutting Dec. 2 for Marrs Hall and the Ann J. Bowling Welcome Center, which is on the second floor of Marrs Hall. The welcome center is now a one-stop shop for prospective students and their families, with the offices of Admissions, Business and Financial Aid all together. Marrs Hall is also where all the administrative offices are now located, including the president’s, the Advancement Office, Human Resources, Finance and Marketing. From left to right, Midway Un
HI, SANTA! Taylor Reed and her mother Kelsey waved to the jolly old elf during Saturday’s Versailles Christmas Parade. Their subdivision, Cedar Ridge, was one of many visited on the 35-mile parade route. (Photo by Tammy Taylor)	SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS posed for photos with children of all ages Saturday from inside the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce. The pandemic kept kids out of Santa’s lap, but didn’t wipe the smiles off their faces. (Brian Oates Photography).	FAMILY AFFAIR: Sisters Kristin Downs (foreground) and Melanie Franklin brought their children downtown Saturday for the second installment of this year’s Versailles Christmas Parade. From left, Lucas Franklin, Peyton Downs (with back to camera), Ellie Downs, and friend Regina King. (Photo by John McGary).
MADDIE RABINOWITZ, 12, the daughter of Kelly and Jon Rabinowitz, was the winner of the Christmas ornament decorating contest sponsored by Metronet, Community Trust Bank and the Woodford Chamber of Commerce. Her ornament and others decorated by local children are hung on the railings of the Woodford County Courthouse. Maddie won a soundbar, three months of free Metronet service and a gift bag. (Photo by Emily Downey)	JACK KAIN FORD donated nearly 20,000 protective masks in Woodford and other counties last week, including some at a Dec. 3 drive-thru event at the Woodford County Park. From left, Woodford Emergency Management Deputy Russell Crabtree, Barrett Schoeck of the Woodford Health Department, Pat Kain, Vickie Kain-Foster, Bob Kain, Karen Hawkins and Donna Sturgeon. Sturgeon said about 12,000 of the masks were given to local agencies and people. (Photo by Amy Thornberry)	VERSAILLES POLICE OFFICERS and other VPD employees formed an assembly line Sunday at the police department to distribute nearly 300 bags of toys and other gifts for the department’s Cops For Kids program. (Photo by Emily Downey)
Belmont University The following students from Woodford County were named to the fall Dean’s List at Belmont University: McEwen Baker, Sydney Owen and Savannah Hutchinson.	THE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN OF BESSIE BAIN, pictured here, are learning to perform acts of kindness in their home school programs. They graciously volunteered to assist her in decorating the large “Pickle Buckets” donated by Jimmy John’s restaurant to be filled with caring items for delivery to senior citizens through the Senior Citizen’s organization for the holidays. They have also been learning to recycle and the positive results it brings back to the earth. Recycling the buckets was a fun proj	PEGGY CARTER SEAL was the first Salvation Army bell ringer at Kroger’s main entrance the day after Thanksgiving. This year, due to the pandemic, volunteers are staffing the kettles outside both Kroger entrances, and the number of “bell ringing days” has been reduced to 10. (Photo by John McGary)
NONESUCH was the site of this photo taken after the first snow of the season. More snow photos are on the front and back page. (Photo by Raelynn Waters)	MAE GREEN was one of many people who rang a bell during the Salvation Army’s annual holiday campaign last year. For more on this year’s drive – and how to sign up for a kettle-tending shift – see page 2. (2019 file photo by John McGary)	FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, M&Ms offered in-person mentoring and awarded the STAR (Smart, Trusting, Achieving, Respectful) Student Award to Christian Reyes and to WCHS Mentor Abigail Santos. M&Ms will return to all-virtual mentoring and home delivery of meals starting Nov. 30. From left, Executive Director Lisa Johnson, Santos, Reyes and Program Director McKenna Bartko. (Photo submitted)
TAMMIE MICHELLE BRADLEY sang for student-athletes in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the Woodford County Park’s Huffman Pavilion last Wednesday afternoon. “We’re just blessed that she’s in town,” said Andrea “Bug” Brown, area representative for FCA. Bradley, a professional opera singer, told the student-athletes she performs around the world, including Paris, France and Berlin, Germany. “I love it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Bradley, a 2000 graduate of Woodford County Hi	LOVE LIGHTS A TREE, an annual program honoring and remembering loved ones touched by cancer, will not be held this year due to COVID-19. Loved ones will be remembered and honored with an angel or star on the Love Tree. It will be displayed for several weeks in the front window of the Woodford County Library in downtown Versailles. Anyone who wants to recognize a loved one may send his or her name to Love Lights a Tree committee Chair Patsy Shryock at 434 Duell Drive, Versailles, Ky. 40383. Donat	THE WOODFORD COUNTY MASONS presented the Woodford County Family Resource Center with a check for $15,050.00 on Nov. 10. These proceeds from the Mason’s annual charity golf scramble will help with the backpack food program. From left are Darren Wilson, Grand Lodge of Kentucky; Drew Chandler, Master of Buford-Landmark Lodge 41; Olivia Britton and Ashley Hicks, Family Resource Center; and Brad Mann, District 20 Deputy Grand Master. (Photo submitted)
AVERY COOLEY, 5, dropped a letter in Santa’s mailbox Saturday during the Christmas Open House event sponsored by the Versailles Merchants Association. Asked what she’d written the jolly old elf, she thought for a moment and said, “I don’t remember.” Avery is the daughter of Cory and Katie Cooley of Versailles. (Photo by John McGary)	MIDWAY CHRISTIAN CHURCH was the site of a free flu vaccine clinic Thursday, Nov. 12. Woodford Public Health Director Cassie Prather said 22 adults and eight children were vaccinated by the state Department of Public Health’s “flu crew.” (Photo by Barrett Schoeck)	THE STUDENTS OF THE MONTH for October at Huntertown Elementary were, from left, top row, Ashleen Navarro, Ella Metzger, Jonathan Roberts and Mallory Cox; second row, Jackson Robinson, Cash Wolfe, Audrey Blauser and Annabeth Toles; third row, Graham Wilbur, Harrison Huber, Harper Deaton and Parker Whiteman; fourth row, Elly Sallee, Langston Vivian, Eli Johnson and Sophia Metzger; fifth row, Samuel Oates, Lucie West, Amarion Reed and Ari Stuban. (Photos submitted)
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE Josh Hicks made two stops in Woodford County Saturday, including this one at Wallace Station. Hicks touted a plan to offset revenue lost during 2020 with grants to locally owned restaurants, to be used for everything from COVID-related expenses to rent, utilities and payroll. (Photo submitted)	PUMPKINS GALORE: Local merchants, residents and schools brought pumpkins to the courthouse stairs the day before Halloween for the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce’s pumpkin decorating contest. (Photo by Emily Downey)	BLUEGRASS BEHAVIORAL owner Jill Patterson held the ceremonial big scissors at a ribbon cutting Oct. 29 at the addiction and mental health practice’s new facility on Marsailles Drive, next to the old Kroger building. She was joined by other employees and elected leaders, including Judge-Executive James Kay, at right. (Photo by John McGary)
ROSE HILL SPIRITS hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 28 to mark the opening of their liquor store on Rose Hill Avenue. From left are Emily Downey, Austin Wingate, Judge-Executive James Kay, Darren Everman, store owners Morgan and Shannon Meekins and Cindy Shell. (Photo by Casie Mudd)	The winners of the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble held Oct. 16 at The Woodford Club was the Falling Springs Recreation team consisting of, from left, Rich Pictor, Marty Ritchey, Kevin O’Reel and Josh O’Reel. (Photo by Brian Oates Photography)	THIS HOME AT 233 West Higgins Street won the Best Use of Inflatables category in the Midway Woman’s Club annual Halloween contest. Other contest winners include 211 South Winter Street (Most Fun Decor), 121 Carriage Lane (Best Overall Design), 211 Cottage Grove, 323 South Winter Street and 216 Coach Station Road (Most Halloween Spirit), 129 Old Towne Walk (Creepiest Decor) and 225 East Higgins Street (Scariest Decor). (Photo by Katie Vandegrift)
THE WCHS LADY JACKETS celebrated last week’s 30th District championship at home and began 8th Region championship play Tuesday, also at home. In the front row, from left, seniors Piper McCoun, Riley Dawkins, Devan Champion, and Legend Burgess. Behind them are April McCann, Katherine Spellman, Logan Weaver, Eliza Nuckols, Raylee Carrico, Morgan Warder, Abba Stith, Olivia Smith, Madison Tracy, Sydney Bietz, Justice Mudd, and head coach Meghan Bottom. Behind Spellman is assistant coach Chris Thomas	THE RELAY FOR LIFE was canceled this year due to the pandemic, but board members gathered at the Woodford County Park Oct. 11 to present about two dozen medals to cancer survivors. From left, Karen Call, Freeman Bailey, Patsy Shryock and Peggy Carter Seal. (Photo by Bill Phelps)	A BANNER IN DOWNTOWN MIDWAY urges residents to vote. It was hung on a stone fence along East Main Street, also known as Railroad Street. (Photo by Bob Vlach)
TWO FIRES were set on Lexington Road near Paddock Drive before sunrise Saturday, Oct. 17 – one at 3:30 a.m. and the second two hours later. Acting Fire Chief Brandon Marshall said the incidents are under investigation. (Photo by John McGary)	MIDWAY MAYOR GRAYSON VANDEGRIFT signed a proclamation last week designating October as National Arts and Humanities Month in Midway and asking the community to celebrate and promote the arts and culture in the city and around the nation. Joining him were, from left, Sally Kinnaird, Assistant City Clerk Sonya Conner, Marcie Christensen, Debbie Graviss, Ellen Skidmore and Lori Meadows. (Photo submitted)	MIDWAY UNIVERSITY cross country runners Jacob Kocis, top, and Sadie Taylor, above, fared well at the Fast Cats Classic Oct. 9. Each was named a River States Conference Runner of the Week. Taylor finished 18th, out of 96 runners, while Kocis came in 11th out of 81 runners. (Photos submitted)